Lamp clutch



Feb. 17, 1 H. D. GRINNELL .LAMP CLUTCH Filed Aug; 21, 1930 M i I Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD D. GRINNELL, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, 'ASSIGNOR TO THE G. C. A. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSFIEIJD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS LAMP GLUTCH Application filed August 21, 1930. Serial No. 476,891.

This invention relates to apparatus for removing and replacing incandescent lamp bulbs and the like objects, particularly those having a threaded portion adapted to be mounted in a screw-type socket, and aims to provide novel and improved means for performing these operations. The invention will best be'understood from a description of a specific useful embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure l is a side elevation, showing the device as applied to an electric lamp bulb of an approved type; 1

Fig. 2, a longitudinal section on the lin 22 of Fig. 1 without the lamp bulb, looking in the direction of thearrow;

Fig. 3, a similar view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, the lamp bulb being indicated in dotted lines; and

Fig. 4, a cross-section on the line H of Fig. 1.

My invention is preferably employed in association with an extension rod or handle 10 of indefinite length adapted to reach lamps arranged in elevated positions beyond the normal grasp of the operator and made up of one 'or more sectionsjointly secured together in any approved manner. The rod or handle herein illustrated is provided atits upper end with a metallic socket member 11 adapted to receive the cylindrical stem 12 at the lower end of my device and constituting a supporting member therefor. This stem 12 is detachably fitted into the socket member 11 and held against accidental displacement or rotation during the turning of the lamp bulb by suitable locking means such as the spring latch 13, which registers with a corresponding opening 14 provided in the wall of the socket member 11.

The stem 12 is provided at its upper end with a circular flat head or carrier 15 providing a suitable enlargement for the support of the clutch portion. Enclosing the head 15 and secured thereto by suitable means, such as the screws 16, is a circular rim 17 of metal or other suitable material having two oppositely arranged upright and preferably in tegral extensions 18, 18. Surrounding and freely enclosing the extensions 18 is an annular casing or frame member 19 which is pivotally secured at opposite points near its upper edge to the extensions 18 by suitable means, such as the rivets 20, permitting limited oscillations of the casing in either of opposite directions on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the casing.

Centrally. freely disposed within the casing 19 and at an elevation above the stem 12 to allowample clearance is an'annular clutch clutch member, insures close contact and increasing friction with the surface of the lamp bulb at its maximum circumference in a plane transverse to its longltudinal axls as the bulb 1s forced inward into gripping engagement with the clutch member and maintained in this position during rotation in either of opposit-e directions under pressure exerted by the operator.

The outer or receiving end of the clutch member 21, as herein illustrated, extends pre-g ferably somewhat above and beyond the upper limits of both the casing or frame member 19 and the supporting-members 18, being desirably indented or provided on its exposed margin with a series of lobular spaced pro-5' jections 23, susceptible of easy fiexure at-their bases in either of opposite directions, toward or awayfrom the lamp bulb, the purpose of these projections being primarily to guide the lamp bulb into the gripping position ccn-' trally within the clutch member and to pre vent accidental outward-displacement of the lamp bulb when detached from its mount-ing or socket. The action of theseprojections 23 is characterized by inclination outward from contact with the maximum diameter of the bulb-during its insertion, and by inclination inward to overlie the bulb after the latter 1 has been advanced into the gripped position.

pivotally supported on and freely within the frame member or casing 19 so as to rock upon an axis substantially at a right angle to the pivotal axis of the casing and preferably in approximately the same plane therewith. This combination of two opposite pivotal movements, which may be simultaneous, provides a universal joint action permitting limited inclination of the clutch longitudinal axis with respect to its normal position in any direction during the turning or rotation of the bulb and insures automatic adjustment and freedom of movement in cramped or angular positions where turning of the bulb is either impossible or liable to result in breakage from excessive pressure. Support of the clutch member 21 on the casin 19 is preferably accomplished through the medium of two oppositely arranged suspension members interposed between them, each of the suspension members being pivoted at its lower end to the casin g 19 in or adjacent the plane of the rivets 20 by a rivet a5, and rigidly secured by eyelets or rivets 26 at a higher elevation to two adjacent projections 23 of the clutch.

The present device bears close relation to the invention disclosed in U. S. Pat at No. 1,468,349, issued to me September 18, 1923, and is designed for the same general purpose, but, it will be observed in addition to structural modifications it is adapted to be successfully applied under unusual as Well as normal conditions and in troublesome situations frequently arising in the art to which both relate where the former device is inadequate, as, for example, where lamp bulbs are mounted, demounted and operatively positioned at a variety of angles with respect to the axis of rotation of the rod or handle on which the bulb remover is mounted. Here it will be apparent that a rigid straight line device cannot be employed with the same degree of facility or safety to the lamp bulb which the present invention providing an inclination in the axis in any direction will afford.

It will be apparent that obvious modifications may be made in the form of my device herein shown without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a carrier adapted to be rotated, clutch supporting means secured to the carrier and including a frame member pivoted to lOCrZ on an axis in a plane transverse to the axis of the carrier, and a clutch member arranged within the frame member and pivoted to rock on an axis at a right angle to the pivotal axis of the frame member.

2. In adevice of the class described, in combination, a carrier, a hollow cylindrical member disposed over the carrier, means securing said cylindrical member to the carrier and pivotally supporting the same to rock on an axis in a plane transverse to the axis of the carrier, a frusto-conical clutch member having a hollow receiving chamber open at both ends and flexible inexpansible side walls, and means for pivotally supporting said clutch member on and within said cylindrical member to rock on an axis in the plane of and at a right angle to the pivotal axis of said cylindrical member.

3. In a device of the class described, in com bination, a carrier, a lamp-bulb gripping member supported freely over the carrier and having its longitudinal axis normally coincident with the axis of the carrier, and securing means permitting the gripping member to be rocked on separate axes in angular relation to each other and in a plane transverse to the axis of the carrier.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a carrier, a frame member supported by the carrier and pivoted to rock on an axis in a plane transverse to the axis of the carrier, and a work-receiving member carried by the frame member, and pivoted to rock on an axis at right angles to the axis of the frame member.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rod, a conical shell-member adapted to enclose a lamp-bulb and providing a gripping engagement therewith for turning the lamp-bulb in either of opposite directions, means for securing the shell-member on the rod, and pivotal supporting means for 7381- mitting the shell-member to be rotated with the lamp-bulb when their longitudinal axes are disposed in angular relation to the longitudinal axis of the rod.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rotative support, a clutch member on the support for engaging and disengaging a lan p-bulb and adapted to turn the lampbulb in either of opposite directions when in the gripping position, means permitting the clutch member to rock in separate planes in angular relation to one another, and means for opposing outward displacement of the lamp-bulb from the clutch member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HAROLD D. GRINNELL. 

